Crimes in Midwinter are classified as either Low Status or High Status depending upon their nature.
Low status crimes are dealt with by local judges at the watch houses. Each watch house has three judges, responsible for trying criminals in their controlled areas.
| Crime | Punishment |
| Arson | Up to 20 years hard labour and damages. |
| Counterfeiting | Up to 5 years hard labour |
| Bribery | 1 week hard labour plus fine equal to bribe amount. |
| Fraud | Damages and/or up to 10 years in prison. |
| Assault Resulting In Mutilation or Crippling | Up to 2000gp in damages and/or up to 3 years Hard Labour. |
| Assault resulting in Wounding | Damages (cost of medical attention plus up to 500 gp) |
| Assault without wounding or robbery | Imprisonment (overnight) and Damages (up to 50 gp) |
| Robbery | Hard Labour (upto 1 month) and Damages (value of goods lost plus up to 500 gp) |
| Burglary | Imprisonment (up to 3 months) and Damages (value of goods lost plus up to 500 gp) |
| Fencing Stolen Goods | Imprisonment (up to 2 years) and Fine (typically twice the price the goods were sold for) |
| Conspiracy | Half of related imprisonment and full fine |
| Impersonation of a Guardsman or Officer of the Watch | Imprisonment (as justice demands) plus Fine of 5,000 gp and flogging |
| Unlawful Duelling (Manslaughter) | Damages (to family, typically 1,000 gp) or Hard Labour (up to 3 years) and Damages |
| Bribery of a City Officer or official (attempted or apprehended) | Hard Labour (up to 20 years) |
| Theft of Temple Goods or Offerings (includes spoilage or consumption of same) | Imprisonment (up to 1 month) and Damages (double the estimated value of the goods) |
| Tomb Robbing (or Unlawful Entry and/or Vandalism of a Tomb) | Imprisonment (up to 1 week) and Damages (costs of repairs and replacements plus up to 500 gp, payable to whoever maintains the tomb - temple, guild, City, or family |
| Theft or Killing of Livestock | Damages (double cost of lost stock) |
| Assault Upon Any City Officer Who Is Acting in the Line of Duty | Imprisonment (1 week) plus Fine of 100gp |
| Unlawful Entry into the Harbor | (1 charge per vessel per occasion): Fine of 500 gp |
| Unlawful Duelling, apprehended, no fatality | Imprisonment (1 week) and Fine of 100 gp |
| Entry into City after Curfew, or not by Main Gates | Fine of 100 gp |
| Assault Upon A Priest or Lay Worshiper | Damages (of up to 500 gp; payable to temple,and usually based on ability to pay) |
| Damage to Property | Damages (value of goods lost plus up to 500 gp) |
| Assault on Livestock (nonfatal) | Damages (cost of medical attention plus up to 500 gp) |
| Unlawful Hindrance of Business | Damages (up to 200 gp) |
| Impeding the Swift Process of Law by Delaying the Actions of the Guard or Watch | Imprisonment (2 days). |
| Unlawful Flight Intrusion (into City airspace, of intelligent being flying by means of an aerial mount or magic) | Fine of 300 gp (in wartime, sentence can be Death) |
| Vagrancy | Imprisonment (overnight) |
| Littering (includes Relief of Human Wastes in Public | Imprisonment (overnight) and Fine of 2 sp to 1 gp |
| Brandishing a Weapon Dangerously or Threateningly Without Due Cause | Imprisonment (overnight) and Fine of 1 gp |
| Dangerous Operation of a Coach, Wagon, Litter or other Conveyance | Fine of 5 - 50 gp |
High status crimes are tried in the Palace Courts. The Palace Courts are overseen by Orlothian Judges, along with three members of the Council of Lords
| Crime | Punishment |
| Treason | Life imprisonment or execution |
| High Murder | Execution |
| Low Murder | Imprisonment for 20 years |
| Attempted Murder | 10 years hard labour |
| Piracy | Execution |
| Rape | Life hard labour |
| Kidnapping | 5-10 years hard labour |
| Selling or Trafficking of Slaves | Imprisonment 1-5 years and Fine of up to 5000gp |
| Forgery of an Official Document | Death or Exile & Mutilation |
| Poisoning of Water Supplies | Death or Life Hard Labour |
| Sabotage | Fine of up to 5,000 gp plus cost of repairs, |
| Spying | Death or 20 years Imprisonment plus Fine of up to 5,000 gp |
| Defiling of a Holy Place (Burglary, Arson, or Vandalism) | Damages or Hard Labour (up to 5 years) and Damages or Imprisonment (up to 3 years) and Damages |
| Theft, Vandalism, or Arson Against the Palace or Any Part of the City Walls | Hard Labour plus Fine (costs of repairs plus 2,000 gp) |
| Unlawful Observation or Copying of an Official Document | Imprisonment (3 weeks) plus Fine of 300 gp |
Perpetrators of magical crimes are tried by the Mage's Guild. The Guild is tough on rogue mages and employs it's own Mage Hunters. Trials are presided over by four Senior Members.
| Crime | Punishment |
| Polymorphing Others | Fine of 1000 gp |
| Magical Influence | Imprisonment for 1 year and Fine of 500gp |
| Harmful Magic | Fine of up to 5000gp |
Weapons and Armour in Midwinter
The city of Midwinter restricts the possession (and, more importantly, the use) of the deadlier weapons and heavier armours. The object of this law is public safety; there are far fewer deaths and injuries when there are fewer longswords and greataxes on the streets. Armour is similarly restricted—though mainly to reduce arguments that larger weapons are necessary.
The basic rule for arms is that a common citizen is allowed to carry a dagger, and no other weapon, within the city walls. Daggers are allowed because they are the principle tool for work, eating, and self-defence. Only city watch members are allowed to carry a blade longer than a dagger. As with any law, though, there are exceptions made for special cases:
- A city watch commander can make a special dispensation to citizens, at the commander's discretion.
- A shepherd or farmer is allowed to carry a quarterstaff.
- A man-at-arms is allowed to carry a short sword. A 'man-at-arms' is defined as someone who makes his living as a bodyguard or private guard. A man-at-arms should be able to provide the name of his employer when questioned.
- A cleric is allowed to carry her deity's favoured weapon, provided it is peace-bound.
- No citizen is allowed to wear armour heavier than a chain shirt (medium and heavy armours, in other words) without special dispensation from a watch commander.
- Shields must be slung, not carried.
- Anyone can transport a proscribed weapon or armour, so long as it is peace-bound or otherwise firmly secured.
- Anyone can wield any weapon, provided one does so on the grounds of one's own household and no neighbouring citizen complains.
Penalties
Breaking the law regarding weapons or armour is a lesser crime, punishable by confiscation of the weapon or armour in question. Confiscated items can be reclaimed for a fine equal to one tenth of the item's value, payable at the watch commander's office. Unless the item is clearly magical, the fine is based on its perceived value — though masterwork items add to that value. Actually using a weapon within the city walls earns the wielder a night in jail, or more if a charge of Assault or Murder is involved.
